3 Alphas in Management - The 3As (AAAs)
-- Introduction --
3 Alphas in Management is written using very simple yet
effective and proven management techniques that I have been
using in my almost 30 years in senior management positions
in varied industries, including as a Vice President with a
large multi-national company (MNC) and as a Group Executive
Director of a public listed company (plc).
The emphasis of 3 Alphas in Management is on the formation
of teams, known as circles, involving every level of
personnel in the organization to create a cohesive work
force with a sense of purpose within a customer-centric
organization.
Circles are used to denote a roundtable atmosphere and
environment, whereby all the circle participants are equals
and are also equally important.
No one is left out, and in fact, no one should be left out.
After all, all employees are also consumers and are
customers and their ideas and input on how an organization
can be more customer-centric are valid and as such, should
not be discounted or overlooked.
3 Alphas in Management starts from AAA (the 3As) to ZZZ
(the 3Zs).
I do not for one minute believe that the list is exhaustive.
Instead, it is hoped that the 3 Alphas in Management will
stimulate your organization to create their own customized
3 Alphas.
For example, I have used "Ideas In Improvement" for III
(3Is), but also valid would be "Investing In Intrapreuners"
or "Innovations In Industry" etc. etc.
-- The 3 As (AAA) - Against Any Adversities --
-- Overview --
It has often been said that the greatest asset of any
organization is the people that work for them.
Every organization is built on the strength of the people
that work for them, the stronger the people are the
stronger the organization will be.
Unfortunately, many organizations never have the
opportunity to test the strength (or weakness) of their
people until it is too late, that is, in the face of acute
adversity.
It is therefore very important and highly critical to the
continued success and survival of any organization to groom
and train their people to be able to face up to any
adversities.
Thus, the first of the 3Alphas of Management looks at
preparing the organization "Against Any Adversities".
No one plans for adversities to happen. Therefore, more
often than not, they do not plan on how to overcome them.
Also, most people feel and believe that mishaps will only
happen to the other person and not to him. Similarly,
organizations used to believe that misfortunes will only
beset and befall others, hopefully their competitors.
However, nothing is further from the truth. Mishaps,
misfortunes, adversities, calamities, disasters happens
everyday and to anyone. It knows no favors and owes no
favors.
So are you and your organization ready to face any
adversity that may beset you ?
If the answer is YES, you can skip to the next 3Alphas in
Management, but if it is a NO or even a MAYBE, read on.
What sort of adversities could beset your organization?
The list is non-exhaustive, but let us look at a few and
see how well you and your people are ready to face them.
- Senior management replacement policy
Most organizations have in place a very well planned and
executed Succession Planning Program.
Do you have one?
It is quite simple yet quite difficult and sometimes even
impossible for certain organizations.
The first question you need to ask is :
Amongst your key personnel, who in your organization are
currently irreplaceable and indispensable?
Is it the owner, the Chairman, the President, a Vice
President, who, indeed who?
The next question to ask would be :
What do we do if, for whatever reason, these individuals
are no longer in the organization?
Then ask yourself :
How can we plan for this eventuality?
The question goes on and on, but unfortunately all these
questions need answers.
Do you promote internally?
Is anyone ready to take over?
Does the replacement have the knowledge, the experience,
the qualification, the maturity etc etc to take over?
Do we take in someone from outside?
Will he be willing to come?
When can he come?
Will we be able to afford him?
Will the employees accept someone from outside for such a
senior position?
Questions, questions and more questions !!
That needs answers, answers and more answers !!
- Loss of Key Assets
Next, ask yourself :
What happens if our production plant were to be destroyed,
by fire, floods, explosions?
Are we ready to start production elsewhere the next day?
Can we use a third party to manufacture for us?
Can we meet current orders and commitments?
Will our customers move to our competitors?
Hey, are we even insured?
I think the picture is very clear and I do not have to
discuss any other adversities that could probably beset
your organization.
-- The Circles --
What is required is for you to set up Risk Management
Circles in your organization to prepare your organization
"Against All Adversities".
The Risk Management Circles (RMCs) that could be set up are
- RMC on loss of key personnel
This RMC would identify all key personnel and determine the
risk exposure to the organization and ways to minimise or
mitigate this risk in the event of loss of these employees.
- RMC on loss of key assets
This RMC would identify all key assets and determine the
risk exposure to the organization and ways to minimise or
mitigate this risk in the event of loss of these assets,
particularly assets used in the production of goods and
services for sale.
- RMC on loss due to infidelity
This RMC would identify all losses that may be incurred due
to infidelity by key management staff and determine the
risk exposure to the organization and ways to minimise or
mitigate this risk in the event of any act of infidelity.
- RMC on loss of data
This RMC would identify all key information data and
determine the risk exposure to the organization and ways to
minimise or mitigate this risk in the event of loss of
these data, particularly data which are considered critical
for the day to day operation of your organization.
- RMC on industrial espionage and loss of trade secrets
This RMC would identify all key trade secret data and
information and determine the risk exposure to the
organization and ways to minimise or mitigate this risk in
the event of loss of these secrets, particularly trade
secrets that have given your organization the leading edge
in your industry.
-- Methodology --
Circles are used to denote a roundtable atmosphere and
environment, whereby all the participants in the Circle are
equals and are also equally important.
- The Circle would be set up by the Management
- The Circle will be made up of personnel from different
departments or divisions
- The Circle will have a facilitator and not a Chairman,
and a Secretary
- Minutes, to be taken by the Secretary, will not be taken
verbatim, but only the main points and the decisions are
recorded. This is to ensure that participants will be
willing to express themselves and their ideas and concerns
freely without fear
- The Circle would then be empowered by the Management to :
- Identify the possible risk within their defined area,
example on Loss of Key Personnel
- Discuss ways to mitigate or minimize these risks
- Make a proposal to the Management on the possible steps
needed to be taken to overcome or minimize the risks
- Design the Reporting Formats to be used to document the
risks and the steps taken to mitigate them
- Monitor the progress of the organization's implementation
of the mitigating steps
- Report to Management on any "new" risk that they foresee
- Report to Management on any shortcomings in the
implementation of the mitigating steps
-- I will continue posting articles on 3 Alphas in
Management until the 3Zs (ZZZ), but not necessarily in
alphabetical order.
-- Look out for them or email me to receive advance notice
of their publishings, as and when they are ready.
----------------------------------------------------
I have been in Management since the 70s, IT since the 80s
and since the late 90s I began merging all my expertise
into Internet Businesses that include Accounting Software,
Online Bookkeeping Services, Online Travel Booking System
and Online Shopping Catalog.
To view my products and services go to
http://www.your1stop.co.uk
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information on Management email me at
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